Adjustable granular material dispenser

ABSTRACT

For dispensing granular material (such as vitamin conditioner for animals) a conical hopper having a discharge chute at the bottom is provided with a metering and dispensing valve structure which is adjustable for varying the quantity of material metered. A threaded rod is supported by a fitting at the center of the top of the hopper and is movable relative to the hopper between three positions: (a) filling position; (b) closed position; and (c) dispensing position. The lower end of the rod carries a bottom valve member which has a maximum diameter to close off the chute in filling or closed positions. Spaced upward of the bottom valve member and also on the threaded rod is top valve member which closes off the chute in closed and dispensing positions. The adjustable distance between the members determines the volume dispensed.

United States Patent 1191 James Sept. 10, 1974 ADJUSTABLE GRANULAR MATERIAL DISPENSER [22] Filed: June 18, 1973 [21] Appl. No.2 371,275

[52] US. Cl. 222/440, 222/453 [51] Int. Cl. G01f 11/40 [58] Field of Search 222/365, 438, 439, 440,

Primary Examiner-Robert B. Reeves Assistant Examiner-Larry H. Martin Attorney, Agent, or Firm.lulian Caplan [5 7] ABSTRACT For dispensing granular material (such as vitamin conditioner for animals) a conical hopper having a discharge chute at the bottom is provided with a metering and dispensing valve structure which is adjustable for varying the quantity of material metered. A threaded rod is supported by a fitting at the center of the top of the hopper and is movable relative to the hopper between three positions: (a) filling position; (b) closed position; and (c) dispensing position. The lower end of the rod carries a bottom valve member which has a maximum diameter to close off the chute in filling or closed positions. Spaced upward of the bottom valve member and also on the threaded rod is top valve member which closes off the chute in closed and dispensing positions. The adjustable distance between the members determines the volume dispensed.

4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PAIENIEQ SEN man ADJUSTABLE GRANULAR MATERIAL DISPENSER This invention relates to a new and improved adjustable granular material dispenser of the type useful in dispensing such products as vitamin conditioner for animals. It is necessary to dispense a fixed amount of the material each time but this fixed amount must be variable by adjustment of the valve structure hereinafter described.

A principal purpose of the invention is to provide a convenient, easily operated, easily adjusted dispenser for a material.

Another purpose of the invention is to provide a chute through which the product is dispensed which accommodates a bag, or pouch, into which the material is dispensed.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of a convenient means whereby the device may be suspended, a typical installation being adjacent a sewing machine so that the bag or pouch after filling may be sewed shut and the pouch is thus located in close proximity to the machine reducing the amount of labor or likelihood of spillage of contents in the interval between dispensing and closing the container.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of a reciprocating valve structure which is not likely to jam during actuation of the device.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings in which similar characters of reference represent corresponding parts in each of the several views.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view partly broken away in section to reveal internal construction showing the valve structure in dispensing position.

FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 are vertical sectional views showing the valve structure in the beginning of the filling operation, the closed position and the dispensing position, respectively.

Although subject to some variation in size and shape, there is provided an inverted conical hopper 11 which is truncated at its lower end and discharges into a cylindrical discharge chute 12. A cylindrical collar 14 above hopper 11 increases the capacity thereof. The size of chute 12 is such that a neck of a bag or pouch may be slipped over the lower end of the chute so that all the granular material is dispensed into the bag. Vertically reciprocal within the chute 12 and hopper 1 1 is a valve mechanism 13.

Supporting the valve mechanism for vertical reciprocation is an elongated threaded rod 16. Top valve member 17 is positioned above the lower end of rod 16 and consists of a disc which closely fits the inside of chute 12 to close off the chute in closed and dispensing positions. The position of member 17 along rod 16 is determined by means of nuts 18 and 19 on the top and bottom of the member 17 which secures the member 17 and are themselves secured by lock nuts or other means.

The bottom valve member 21 is preferably a cone, the maximum diameter of which also fits closely against the inside of chute 12. The member 21 is held in position on rod 16 by means of nuts 22 and 23 on top and bottom, respectively, and may be secured by a lock nut or other means. As best shown in FIG. 3, in the closed position of the valve member 13 the distance between members 17 and 21 determines the volume of material trapped in the valve mechanism and hence the amount dispensed. This volume may be adjusted by moving the members 17 and 21 toward each other, the position shown in FIG. 3 being the position for maximum volume of the dispensing mechanism. I

The middle of rod 16 is received within a sleeve 26 and the position of sleeve 26 relative to rod 16 is fixed by means of top and bottom nuts 27 and 28 which also may have lock nut or other means to hold the parts in place. Sleeve 26 slides in guide 29. The nut 27 at the top has an enlargement such as a washer 30 which limits downward movement of the valve structure l3 so that the device does not drop out of the chute 12. Guide 29 is received in transverse rod 31 with springs 32 surrounding the rod 31 and interposed between the hopper walls 11 and the guide 29, it being understood that the rod 31 projects out to holes in the upper end of the hopper 11. The springs 32 tend to center guide 29 and hence rod 16 relative to the chute 12 but have sufficient flexibility to allow the rod 16 to slant and insure that the parts remain in proper positions.

In use, the rod 16 issuspended by hanger 34 from some convenient location preferably near a sewing machine. Granular material is poured into the hopper with the valve in the closed position shown in FIG. 3 with members 17 in close contact with the chute 12 to prevent discharge. As a first step in dispensing, the hopper 11 is pushed downwai'dly to the position of FIG. 2

which is the commencement of the filling position and then the hopper 11 is gradually raised. During the raising period, the member 21 closes off the chute 12 and gradually the granular material flows into the chute until the closed position of FIG. 3 is reached. In this position a fixed quantity of material is trapped in the chute. A bag is then installed over the lower end of the chute 12. Thereupon, the hopper 1 1 is raised to the position of FIG. 4 and the material flows out through the bottom of the chute and around the memb'er21 into the bag. To facilitate filling into bags (such as flat polyethylene bags) a bag-opening attachment 36 is used. The upper ends 37 of a plurality (e.g., six) wires are secured to chute 12 by a hose clamp 38 or other means. Wires 37 extend straight down to a position below the lowermost position of bottom valve member 31. The lower ends 39 of the wires converge inward to a center 41. The open endof the bag (not shown) fits over center 41. As the bag is raised, the wires 37-39 spread it open. Thereupon, the hopper 1 1 is lowered to the position of FIG. 2. The conical shape of member 21 assists in locating the member 21 safely withinthe chute 12. Further, the springs 32 enable the valve structure to be centered in the hopper 11 without jamming.

When it is necessary to adjust the quantity to be dispensed, the members 21 and 17 are moved relative to each other by adjusting the nuts 18, 19, 22 and 23 along the threaded rod 16. The position of sleeve 26 determines the full-up position of FIG. 2 and the fulldown dispensing position which is slightly beyond the position shown in FIG. 4 with the nut 27 contacting guide 29. I p

What is claimed is:

1'. A dispensing device comprising a hopper having an opening at its bottom, a cylindrical chute below said opening and a valve mechanism reciprocable in said hopper and along the axis of said chute between filling,

closed and dispensing position, said mechanism comprising a rod extending along said axis, support means in said hopper to support said rod in position along said axis, said support means comprising a guide member having a first hole along said axis and slidably receiving said sleeve and a second hole transverse to said first hole, a second rod through said second hole and extending out therefrom in opposite directions and engaging and being supported by said hopper and resilient means on said second rod biasing said guide along said second rod to a position on the axis of said firstmentioned rod, an upper valve member on said rod having an outside diameter to close said chute when said mechanism is in closed and dispensing positions, a lower valve member having a maximum diameter to close said chute when said mechanism is in filling and close positions, valve member securing means independently adjustably securing each said member on said rod to control the volume of space between said members when both said members are within said chute and said mechanism is in closed position, a sleeve over said rod above said upper valve member and slidable within said support means, sleeve securing means adjustably positioning said sleeve on said rod, said sleeve having a stop engaging said support means in dispensing position and limiting movement of said valve mechanism out of said chute.

2. A dispensing device according to claim 1 in which said lower valve member has a conical surface whereby when said mechanism is moved from dispensing toward closed position said conical surface guides said lower valve member into said chute.

3. A dispensing device according to claim ,1 in which said rod is threaded and said valve member securing means and said sleeve securing means comprise nuts threaded on said rod.

4. A dispensing device according to claim 1 which further comprises a plurality of wires extending down below said chute and converging downwardly to meet at a common center below said chute and means for attaching said wires to said chute. 

1. A dispensing device comprising a hopper having an opening at its bottom, a cylindrical chute below said opening and a valve mechanism reciprocable in said hopper and along the axis of said chute between filling, closed and dispensing positiOn, said mechanism comprising a rod extending along said axis, support means in said hopper to support said rod in position along said axis, said support means comprising a guide member having a first hole along said axis and slidably receiving said sleeve and a second hole transverse to said first hole, a second rod through said second hole and extending out therefrom in opposite directions and engaging and being supported by said hopper and resilient means on said second rod biasing said guide along said second rod to a position on the axis of said first-mentioned rod, an upper valve member on said rod having an outside diameter to close said chute when said mechanism is in closed and dispensing positions, a lower valve member having a maximum diameter to close said chute when said mechanism is in filling and close positions, valve member securing means independently adjustably securing each said member on said rod to control the volume of space between said members when both said members are within said chute and said mechanism is in closed position, a sleeve over said rod above said upper valve member and slidable within said support means, sleeve securing means adjustably positioning said sleeve on said rod, said sleeve having a stop engaging said support means in dispensing position and limiting movement of said valve mechanism out of said chute.
 2. A dispensing device according to claim 1 in which said lower valve member has a conical surface whereby when said mechanism is moved from dispensing toward closed position said conical surface guides said lower valve member into said chute.
 3. A dispensing device according to claim 1 in which said rod is threaded and said valve member securing means and said sleeve securing means comprise nuts threaded on said rod.
 4. A dispensing device according to claim 1 which further comprises a plurality of wires extending down below said chute and converging downwardly to meet at a common center below said chute and means for attaching said wires to said chute. 